HS FOOTBALL: Midland Christian set for big Louisiana test

Published 3:26 pm, Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The Midland Christian football team returned to Midland after a road trip to Arkansas. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

The Midland Christian football team returned to Midland after a road trip to Arkansas. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

HS FOOTBALL: Midland Christian set for big Louisiana test

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Midland Christian won its 27th straight game last Monday in Arkansas.

And in that 27-game winning streak, and even previous to that, the Mustangs have likely not faced a private school opponent the caliber of Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La.

The Mustangs (1-0) will take on the Cavaliers, who won their first Louisiana Division III state title in 2013, at 7 p.m. today at Jerry Barker Stadium in Shreveport. It’s a a game that doesn’t mean a whole lot for either team for their ultimate goals, but at least in Midland, there’s a little bit of a ramp up in the intensity of workouts.

The Mustangs didn’t have many games a season ago where they went into it knowing it was going to be a four-quarter battle, but this week that will be that challenge. And it’s something that players and coaches are ready to experience again.

“I like it, it’s more of a challenge,” said Mustangs senior defensive end Reid Talley, who had 13 tackles in last week’s victory against Highland, Ark. “It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a battle. We know we have to do everything we can right to win.”

The Mustangs’ preparations for each team didn’t change a year ago whether they went in as heavy favorites or not, but this week they know they are facing a team that will certainly make them work.

Calvary Baptist is coached by a staff whose core spent more than a decade coaching at Louisiana power Shreveport Evangel Christian, and has now been with the Cavaliers for four years.

Plus, they have what coach Greg McClendon said is quite possibly the best team they’ve faced during his tenure. The team has six players that have received Division I scholarship offers, and a quarterback, Shea Patterson, that has double-digit offers from a number of top-tier Division I schools.

But that’s all part of the challenge.

“We know our coaches know more than we do, and they don’t bull crap us and they tell us what we are going to hear and what we are going to see,” said senior wide receiver/defensive back Reagan Brown. “The intensity this week has been good and it picked up a little bit late last week.”

This game came about because the Mustangs were searching for non-district opponents after last February’s realignment. While they struggled to find games in West Texas and even in North Texas, the Mustangs found a willing opponent in Calvary Baptist.

McClendon said the two teams likely won’t play next year in Midland, but at least for this week, both sides are looking forward to the game.

“Anybody that understands Texas high school football understands the rich tradition that comes out of that area,” said Calvary Baptist coach John Bachman, who was also the head coach at Evangel Christian for four years. “And it’s no surprise to me that Midland Christian is a part of that.”

But both coaches said no matter what the other team has talent wise, the goal is do what they do and see what happens.

“I think the biggest challenge for us is to just make sure we go in and do what we do,” McClendon said. “Get started fast, finish strong and have fun. I don’t think we have to play over our heads but we just have to play a solid ball game.”

Weather forecast: A temperature of around 85 degrees is expected at game time with a 50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms.

Five things you need to know

- Today’s game will be the second straight out of state game for the Mustangs this season. Midland opened the season with an 11-hour road trip to Fayetteville, Ark., to play Hardy Highland (Ark.). This game was originally scheduled to be played at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, but because of a conflict the game was moved to Calvary Baptist’s home field.

- The Mustangs will continue to use two quarterbacks this season and Garry Powell and McLane Mannix were solid in their debuts last week against Highland. Powell completed 6-of-9 passes for 60 yards and McLane Mannix was 2-of-3 for 47 yards and a touchdown. The two also combined to rush for 81 yards on nine carries.

- Calvary Baptist is one of the top schools in Louisiana. The Cavaliers won a Select Division III Louisiana state championship a year ago, and have a handful of recruits who have been offered Division I scholarships. The only commitment is senior running back Orland Bradford, who has made his pledge to Arizona. Meanwhile, quarterback Shea Patterson is considered one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the country, and has more than a dozen offers from schools such as LSU, Southern Cal, Alabama and Baylor. Also DB Shun Brown has committed to Mississippi State, while defensive backs Andraez Williams has been offered by LSU and Chanse Sylvie has received an offer from Texas Tech.

- Calvary Baptist coach John Bachman is no stranger to success as a coach. Bachman, a Shreveport native, coached at Katy for former head coaches Mike Johnston and current head Gary Joseph at one time in his career. He also spent 13 years coaching at Louisiana power Shreveport Evangel Christian. Bachman said that the big difference between coaching in Louisiana and Texas is the financial support that schools receive.

“Louisiana has good football, great players and great coaches, but not the financial backing they have (in Texas),” Bachman said.

- Bachman said that the Cavaliers could have an advantage in today’s game if there is high humidity. He said last week in their win against Bossier City Parkway, it was 100 percent humidity and his players showed some fatigued but handled it well.

“If you are not used to the kind of humidity we have, there’s not doubt it’s an advantage to us,” Bachman said. “It’s part of every day life for us.”